False claims 'on teachers' files'

[bamalli]

Teachers' lives are being ruined because false allegations by pupils stay on their records and turn up on employment checks, a conference heard.

The National Union of Teachers wants false or unproven claims removed from Criminal Records Bureau disclosures.

Delegates at its annual conference said allegations must be investigated, but teachers needed protection from events that may dog careers years later.

The government said employers should record how allegations were dealt with.

Playing safe

At the NUT conference, in Harrogate, Leicester teacher Ian Leaver said the problem arose with the CRB "enhanced disclosures" which teachers must have.

These include intelligence reports from police about anything they think might be relevant.

   
You might think that it couldn't happen to you, but actually couldn't it happen to any one of us?
Jane Rudon

After the murders of two schoolgirls in Soham by caretaker Ian Huntley, police forces were criticised for failing to share intelligence about him.

So police now "take no chances and report all allegations", Mr Leaver said.

A London NUT official, Kevin Courtney, said a teacher he had supported had been the victim of a claim which police had decided was not worth investigating.

The teacher's school also felt it had no basis and the matter was dropped within three weeks.

Lack of procedure

Two years later the teacher applied for a post in a different area. The school asked for a CRB check - and the police repeated the allegation, without saying they and the school had taken no action.

The union's lawyers took up the issue with the police and eventually got the incident removed from the CRB check.

But Mr Courtney said the important issue was there was no established appeal procedure for dealing with such a case.

Leicester teacher Jane Rudon said: "You might think that it couldn't happen to you, but actually couldn't it happen to any one of us?"

She said: "How do you try to convince a prospective employer that you were innocent?"

A head teacher from Kirklees, Gill Goodswen, said: "Where a case is unfounded, unproved and dismissed it should clearly say so."

'Devastation'

Rinaldo Frezzato from the London borough of Waltham Forest said allegations could be a reflection of serious difficulties in a youngster's schooling or home life.

He recalled an allegation in which it turned out the student was indeed being abused - not by the teacher against whom the allegation had been made, but by a male relative at home. "Therefore it's very important that all are investigated very carefully," he said.

   
Our guidance... makes clear that employers keep a clear and comprehensive summary of allegations made, details of how allegations were followed up and resolved
DfES spokesman

"However the central issue for our members is the devastation of someone's life and career."

NUT officials accept there is Home Office guidance on what information should be held and passed on by the police - but they say in practice these are not always followed fairly.

A spokesman for the Department for Education and Skills said child protection was paramount.

"Our guidance, which came into force last year, makes clear that employers keep a clear and comprehensive summary of allegations made, details of how allegations were followed up and resolved and of any action taken and decisions reached."

The department supported head teachers who took firm action to deal with pupils who made false allegations, including permanently excluding them.